Means for molding articles



24, 1935. J. c, FORD MEANS FOR MOLDING ARTICLES Filed Aug. 1'7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 D66a 24, 1935. c FORD MEANS FOR MOLDING ARTICLES Filed Aug. 17, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JZZUZrLZ UT': d gph/ C 40rd @ww wimp-W;

Patented Dec. 24, 1935 2,025,029 MEANS FOR MOLDING ARTICLES Joseph C. Ford Madison,

Wis., assignor to The Celon Company, Madison, Wis., a. corporation.

of Wisconsin Application August17, 1933, Serial No. 685,579

10 Claims.

This invention relates tomeans for molding articles and particularly to an apparatus for making sealing elements from regenerated substance, such as viscose or gelatin.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for carrying molds to a particular ply of the substance used about the exterior surface Another object is to pro position relative to a supto provide a coating of the molds. vide an apparatus for moving or positioning the molds so that the film material thereon will be caused to flow about the mold in apredetermined manner.

A further object of the i nvention is toxprovide means for selectively dipping the molds and then selectively moving the mined path to obtain material about the molds.

molds along a predeterthe desired flow of the A still further object is to provide a continuous operating device carrying molds to bring the molds into filming relationship with a substance bath to film the molds whereby molds of various sizes may be selectively dipped or immersed in different baths according to a predetermined arrangement.

Numerous other objects and progress of the following apparent throughout the specification.

advantages will be The accompanying drawings illustrate a selected embodiment of therein are as follows:

the invention and the views Fig. 1 is a detail sectional view of the improved apparatus and showing the method, of

dipping the molds in a substance bath, the view being taken on the line l-| of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectio movement and position of nal the

view showing the larger size molds.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view showing means for varying the angular position of the molds relative to the chain.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to means for determining the size molds.

Fig. 4 showing guide position of the larger longitudinal mold carrying clude a longitudinal bar 6 to each end of the bar 6.

supports 5 which inand shoes 1 fastened Each support-5 carries a shaft 8 which has operable engagement with endless chains 9 whereby to pivot on the axis 8 and the supports are free are translated by the chains 9. The chains are driven by suitable mechanism and ride over s proclrets Ill supported.

on shafts l I to move the supports continuously along a circuitous path. A plurality of horizontally spaced preferably removable molds I2 are carried by each support, and the supports being pivotally mounted relative to the chains 9, nor- 5 mally hang downwardly from the chains as shown. The molds on the supports are successively fed by the chains 9 to a movable hopper l3 carrying a predetermined amount of substance Hi. If the molds l 2 move to feeding position to be immersed in the substance M, they extend Vertically downward and are immersed in the substance I 4 to provide a film l5 of the substance on the molds. After the molds leave the substance and have their exterior surfaces provided with a film of the substance, they are permitted to remain in their downwardly extending position -to permit the substance to flow toward the end l6 of the molds to cause sufficient material to flow to the ends of the molds. After the molds leave the 20 substance, they are permitted to remain in their downwardly extending position to permit a certain amount of the substance to drip ofi the mold.

When they have dripped a predetermined length of time, they are inverted and are caused to move 25 from a downward position to an upright vertical position by shifting the mold supports on their axes 8 causing them to move from downward position to vertical position and then returning to normal downward position. The molds remain in their vertical position until the heavy drop of substance on the end, caused by the dripping, has spread out over the end. The movement of the molds is accomplished by applying or fastening a drum I! to each end of the two uppermost shafts II and arranging a guide member 88 between the uppermost sprockets I0 as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Thus, while the molds move along the continuous path, the end shoes I on each support 5 will engage the drums i1 and the guides i8 and will be moved from normal downwardly extending position, through various angles, to upright vertical position and then back again to downward position. The movement of the molds from first, down position through the various angles to horizontal, upright, horizontal and downward positions causes the film I 5 of the substance to become equally distributed and, therefore, causes an even thickness of the substance about the mold. The big molds are allowed to assume somewhat of a horizontal posi-- tion to permit the stream of substance which has fallen on the side of the mold during the process of inverting, to spread out over the side. They then assume a normal downward position to permit the end of the mold to become a little heavier laden with the substance. Each set of molds, having the film l5 properly spread thereon, is then moved to coagulating or regenerating position. If the substance 14 is viscose, the molds pass through successive baths l9 to coagulate and regenerate the viscose into hydrated cellulose. The treating of the film in the various baths to provide the hydrated cellulose is well known in the art and will not be described herein. If, however, the substance I4 is jelly, gelatin or any of the derivatives or equivalents thereof, the molds will pass through a temperature curing chamber or compartment, not shown. The manner of treating jelly is also well known in this art and no further reference thereof shall be made.

. 1 will come in contact with a cam or guide sur-.

V soon as the shoes leave It is often desirable caps without changing to make various sizes of the molds or their supports, but from a practical standpoint it is desirable and practically necessary that smaller molds return to downward position quicker than the larger molds to provide efiicient caps of the smaller size. Also, it is preferable that the larger molds be prevented from attaining the downward position too rapidly so that the substance may be evenly spread circumferentially about the tubular film. In other words, in the making of small caps, it is necessary that the smaller molds be maintained longer in the downward position after being coated with the to regeneration, while in the making of larger caps it is necessary that the larger molds be maintained out of normal downward position for a longer period of time to insure more equal distribution of the substance about the molds on account of having a larger surface coat of the substance. Therefore, when small molds and large molds are used at the same time, the smaller molds should be returned to downward position earlier, and the larger molds should be prevented from attaining the ly. To accomplish this result the supports 5 carrying the larger molds are provided with extensions 20 on their ends, Fig. 5, so that the shoes face 2 I. Thus, during operation of the chains, the longer bars will contact with the drums II, the guide members 18 and the surface guides 2 I, Figs.

3 and 5, and prevent the supports 5 from pivoting on their axes until they reach the end 22 of the guides or cam surfaces 2|.

. The supports 5 for the smaller molds do not have the extensions 20, Fig. 4. Therefore, as the last drum H, the supports will pivot on their axes and immediate- 1y return to downward position,- Fig. 1. The sup sufiiciently long but are short enough to keep the shoes I from coming into engagement with the members 2! The supplyhopper I3 is made movable and is provided with wheels 23 which run on tracks 24.

The hopper also has two compartments25 and 26 each carrying a supply of substance M. The liquid level of the substance in each compartment is made variable as it is desirable that the smaller tubes do not extend too deeply into the material. It is also necessary, however, that the larger tubes extend down into the material a suflicient amount. Therefore, as the molds are being'fed to dipping position, the hopper l3 may be moved inwardly and outwardly to cause any desired number of molds to be filmed selectively in either compartment. Also, it might be desirsubstance and prior parting from downward position too rapidable to use a different kind of substance. In the compartment 25 the substance may contain a pigment to make an opaque cap, while in the compartment 26 the ordinary substance without a pigment may be used to provide transparent caps. It is advantageous, however, to have different liquid levels so that the compartment 25 may be in position for coating the larger molds, while the compartment 26 may be used for coating the smaller molds. As the hopper is made movable, it is an easy matter to shift the hopper to bring the proper compartment into position relative to the proper molds. The double compartment fea ture of the hopper and its movability insures the making of different sized caps according to a predetermined or selected arrangement.

The tank or container l3 may be provided with pipe connections 21, Fig. 2, to drain the contents of each compartment.

A shield 30, Fig. 2, may extend upwardly from an end of the hopper or tank I3 to catch any drip which may fall from the coated tubes and deposit it in a gutter 3| whereby the drip will then flow out of a pipe 32.

The invention provides novel means for continuously making articles of various sizes, and permits molds of smaller sizes to be operated continuously along with molds of larger sizes. Furthermore, the invention provides means whereby separate tanks of lectively in accordance with the type of molds to be coated.

Changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without deficing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In a device of the character described comprising a plurality of mold carrying members, means for moving the members along a predetermined path, means for moving the members movement through said various angles at any substance may be used sethe spirit of the invention or sacridesirable predetermined point, and means for V holding some of the members in a predetermined angular position longer members. a

2. In a device of the character described comprising a plurality of mold carrying members, means for moving the members along a predetermined path and through various angles, means for stopping movement through said various angles at any desirable predetermined point, and means for selectively maintaining some of the than other of said members at a predetermined angular position longer than other from other mold carrying members so as to al low the latter to be positioned for a relatively longer or shorter period of time at any predetermined or desirable angle.

3. In a device of the character described com-- prising a plurality of mold carrying members, means for moving the members along a predetermined path, means for moving the members through various angles. means for stopping movement through said various angles at any desirable predetermined point, means for holding some of the members in a predetermined angular position longer than other of said members,

of said molds, said means cooperating with mold'carrying members different and means for supplying a coating of substance to the molds.

4. In a device for making regenerated articles shoes on said bars drums engageable with the from a substance comprisinga plurality of molds, shoes for rotating the bars so as to move the a movable tank containing substance and adaptmolds out of the normal vertical position relative ed to be shifted into position relative to certain to the chains when the bars reach a predetermolds, means to pass certain molds through the mined position, means engageable with the shoes tank to provide a coating of the substance on the on said mold carrying bars, said means engaging molds, means to move the coated molds through said shoes when the b various angular positions, and means for selecposition, thereby preventing the bars from astively moving the molds along divergent paths. suming their former angle and thereby maintain- 5. In a device for making regenerated articles ing the last assumed position of said bars over a from a substance, comprising a plurality of molds, certain predetermined course of their travel, and

some of the molds for a longer period of time than carrying tanks arranged beneath the chains at other molds. points in their path where the path dips downthrough various angles, means for stopping downwardly extending vertical position when the time than other of said molds. which they leave the drums, and slide means en 3 '7. A device for coating molds comprising movgaging said shoes as they leave said last named ing endless chains, bars pivotally connected to means, said slide means being adapted to permit ried by the bars, substance carrying tanks in tending vertical position. juxtaposition relative to the molds whereby the 10. A device for coating molds comprising mov- 40 molds will be dipped in the substancein the tanks ing endless chains, bars pivotally connected to tank, said molds normally being carried in a to move through an irregular path, substance cari5 downwardly extending vertical position, shoes on rying tanks arranged beneath the chains at said bars, drums engageable with the shoes for points in their path where the path dips downrotating the bars so as to move the molds out of wardly, said tanks having return flow aprons the normal vertical position relative to chains thereon, shoes on said bars, said shoes being arwhen the bars reach a prede ermined position, ranged at the normal top of the bars when, said tain predetermined course of their travel. self, means arranged on one side of said drum 8. A device for coating molds comprising movto engage the shoes as they leave the drum and ing endless chains, bars pivotally connected to thereby maintain the molds in the position at said chains and translated thereby, molds carwhich they leave the drum slide means engaging ried by the bars, substance carrying tanks in said shoes as they leave said last named means, juxtaposition relative to the molds whereby the another drum engaging said shoes for rotating tanks being shiftable whereby certain of said named drum for allowing the molds to gradually ried in a downwardly extending vertical position, JOSEPH 0, FORD, 

